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Children's Institute

Supports children's emotional well-being and education

Front Office Operations Specialist

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$19.47 - $22.85
Junior
Lawndale, CA, USA
In PersonRequires travel between sites as needed, potentially 25% to 50% of the time.
Administrative & Executive AssistanceAdministrative Support, Reception & Front Desk

About the job

Requirements
  • One year of administrative experience.
  • One to two years of general maintenance or operations experience.
  • A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) is required.
  • Spanish/English bilingual ability is required.
  • A valid driver's license and state-required auto insurance, or reliable access to transportation, depending on business needs.
  • General working knowledge of electrical, plumbing, mechanical, painting, and heating and cooling systems, including basic troubleshooting.
  • Working knowledge of maintenance and operations in a multi-building office environment, including applicable building codes and safety regulations.
  • Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities, work independently, and follow through on assigned tasks.
  • Ability to maintain standards for quality, efficiency, customer service, and workplace safety.
  • Strong interpersonal, customer service, verbal, and written communication skills.
  • Ability to handle confidential information and maintain patient privacy, including protection of protected health information.
  • Sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
  • Availability to accept on-call assignments as scheduled.
  • Must be free from alcohol and drug abuse.
  • Must understand CII’s basic philosophy and participate in carrying out its mission.
  • Basic knowledge of computer programs in a Windows environment, including Word, Excel, and email.
  • Knowledge of Computer Aided Facility Management systems.
  • Ability to meet the role’s physical demands, including standing, walking, reaching, handling, climbing or balancing, bending, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and talking or hearing.
  • Ability to work in the described environment, including working near mechanical parts and exposure to occasional outdoor weather conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme temperatures, and electrical-shock risk.
  • Must complete New Hire Orientation, AB-1343 Sexual Harassment Prevention training, Mandated Reporter training, Timekeeping & Attendance training, and CPR/First Aid training.
  • Must satisfy the listed contingencies: influenza immunization or declination; COVID-19, MMR, and Tdap immunizations; education verification; reference check; background fingerprint clearance (FBI, DOJ, CACI) conducted by the California Department of Social Services; drug and alcohol screening; and tuberculosis screening.
Responsibilities
  • Greet visitors, clients, callers, and staff in a friendly, professional, and helpful manner.
  • Answer phones, route calls, and direct clients and visitors to appropriate personnel.
  • Track administrative logs, service requests, maintenance requests, packages, parking reservations, and related records.
  • Create the weekly site calendar and assist with appointments, psychiatric calls, and related coordination.
  • Assist the Administrative Supervisor with front desk-related projects, documentation, reports, training materials, and other operational needs as assigned.
  • Serve as a secondary resource for the front desk team by assisting with questions, coverage needs, room reservations, visitor support, and other front desk functions when the Administrative Supervisor is unavailable.
  • Walk through the building and surrounding areas regularly to identify concerns such as damaged furniture, lighting issues, plumbing problems, broken fixtures, equipment concerns, trip hazards, cleanliness issues, or other potential safety concerns; report issues to the Lead Operations Manager or appropriate team and follow up as needed.
  • Coordinate with the Lead Operations Manager to support maintenance activities, complete minor repairs, and assist with building systems, fixtures, furniture, equipment, grounds, and site projects.
  • Track and follow up on maintenance requests and operational needs, communicate issues to Operations or Facilities staff, coordinate vendor and contractor access, monitor open requests, and help ensure projects are completed efficiently with minimal disruption to staff and services.
  • Collaborate across departments, programs, and sites to support shared goals and a consistent organization-wide approach to service.
  • Troubleshoot operational issues, discuss concerns with the supervisor, and provide status updates as needed.
  • Maintain materials and supplies inventories and order additional supplies as needed.
  • Report safety or building-code compliance concerns and support a safe environment for staff, clients, and visitors.
  • Respond promptly and positively to staff requests for assistance.
  • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
  • Participate in performance and quality improvement activities according to designated responsibilities.
  • Travel between sites as needed, potentially 25% to 50% of the time.

About the company

Children's Institute helps children and families in Los Angeles achieve emotional well-being and educational success, serving about 30,000 people each year. It operates in underinvested communities like Echo Park, Watts, Compton, and Long Beach, delivering programs that support mental health, education, and family needs to create pathways to economic mobility and lifelong health. The organization weaves equity and inclusion into its decisions, workforce, and programs, and pursues long-term community impact rather than short-term gains. Its goal is to reduce inequities and enable every child and family to reach their full potential by providing evidence-based services, support networks, and access to opportunities.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$100K

Headquarters

Bellflower, California

Founded

1906

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What believers are saying

  • June 24, 2026 strategic plan targets growth, innovation, and sustainability amid funding uncertainty.
  • August 2026 NHSA named CII one of 11 Head Start Program of Excellence recipients.
  • Saban Clinic opened at Otis Booth Campus in 2026, expanding family healthcare access.

What critics are saying

  • April 30, 2026 WARN notice cut 47 Los Angeles workers by June 30.
  • CII's June 2026 plan cites federal funding cuts and harsh immigration enforcement.
  • If California behavioral-health reimbursements tighten, CII's wraparound model faces rapid service contraction.

What makes Children's Institute unique

  • Since 1906, CII serves 30,000 Los Angeles families with integrated education and behavioral health.
  • Its trauma-informed, dual-generation model links Head Start, counseling, parenting support, and care coordination.
  • Otis Booth Campus co-locates partners like Saban, P.S. Arts, and Twinspire for one-stop access.

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Benefits

  • Generous paid PTO, plus 10 paid holidays and CII is closed between Christmas and New Year
  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees and qualified dependents
  • 403b Retirement Plan with employer contribution for eligible employees
  • Up to $4,500 in tuition reimbursement per calendar year
  • Eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Employer paid Life and AD&D Insurance
  • Voluntary Supplemental Insurance
  • Opportunity for growth & advancement
  • Professional development & continued training
  • Team building & bonding through company sponsored events & activities

Company News

PR Newswire
Oct 15th, 2026
John Mayer to perform and Chelsea Handler among special guests at Children's Institute's Cape & Gown Gala on nov 8.

John Mayer to perform and Chelsea Handler among special guests at Children's Institute's Cape & Gown Gala on nov 8. Oct 15, 2026, 14:56 ET Jake Reiner to Present Jamie Lee Curtis with Inaugural Michele & Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Children's Institute (CII) is delighted to announce that comedian, television host, and New York Times best-selling author Chelsea Handler has joined the line-up of special guests for its Cape & Gown Gala on Sunday, November 8, in Beverly Hills. The 8th Annual event also features a special performance by seven-time Grammy Award-winning musician John Mayer. "It was a privilege to know Rob and Michele, and I adored them both. They were extraordinary people who believed in giving back and doing what was right," said Handler. "They left the world better than they found it." The evening will honor celebrated actor, bestselling author and longtime philanthropist Jamie Lee Curtis with the inaugural Michele & Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award, presented by Jake Reiner. Throughout their lives, Michele and Rob Reiner were influential champions for children and families. Their civic leadership helped establish First 5 California, generating billions of dollars in funding and creating a lasting investment in a child's earliest and most critical years of life. The Reiners also played a pivotal role in the landmark federal court challenge to California's ban on marriage equality, a legal effort that restored marriage rights in California and helped set the stage for marriage equality nationwide. Mayer also brings a special connection to the evening. His song "Say," featured in Rob Reiner's 2007 film The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, earned him the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In 2026, Mayer was named The Hollywood Reporter's Philanthropist of the Year for his work with Heart and Armor, a foundation dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of military veterans through research and community programs. "We are thrilled to have Chelsea and John join us in celebrating the legacy of my sister Michele and my brother-in-law Rob," said Martine Singer, president and CEO of Children's Institute. "Together, they were a forcefield in American civic life and deeply influential in raising awareness of important issues, inspiring others to take action and do something big." As the inaugural recipient of the Michele & Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award, Curtis is being recognized for her longstanding commitment to children and families. Her charitable initiative, My Hand In Yours, has raised nearly $2 million for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She is also the bestselling author of 14 children's books, including her most recent title, Just One More Sleep, published in 2024. Proceeds from the gala will support Children's Institute's programs, which provide early childhood education, mental health services, and comprehensive family support to approximately 30,000 children and families across Los Angeles County each year. Cape & Gown Gala Supporters and Sponsors include: Joey Clapper - Janice & Billy Crystal - Jamie Lee Curtis & Christopher Guest - Cindy & Alan Horn - Jamie Alter Lynton & Michael Lynton - Mark E Pollack - Michael S. Smith & Amb. James Costos - Diana & Mallory Walker - Suzanne & Al Yankovic Anonymous - Lynda and Stewart Resnick - Johnny Carson Foundation SOURCE Children's Institute

Olmstead Williams Communications
Sep 1st, 2026
FOX 11's good nite LA spotlights Saban Community Clinic's new Temple Family Health Center.

FOX 11's good nite LA spotlights Saban Community Clinic's new Temple Family Health Center. OWC secured coverage on FOX 11 for Saban Community Clinic's new Temple Family Health Center, located in Los Angeles' Echo Park neighborhood. The new health center, located at 2121 W. Temple St. on the Children's Institute's Otis Booth Campus, is Saban Community Clinic's first healthcare location serving the Echo Park community and its seventh health center in Los Angeles. The co-location partnership with Children's Institute puts Saban's healthcare services within a campus that serves thousands of children and families each year through programs including early childhood education, adult and child therapy, parenting support and care coordination, offering a closer look at a unique approach that will expand access to a full spectrum of family services. Local human service nonprofits are seeing demand for services rise as state and federal budget cuts strain already limited resources. Through its partnership with Children's Institute, Saban is making it easier for families to get the care they need. At a time when its communities are feeling the impact of funding cuts and rising costs, partnerships like these help keep essential services within reach and trusted organizations there for the people who rely on them. The Temple Family Health Center will initially focus on care for children, with comprehensive family healthcare services coming soon. Saban provides compassionate, high-quality healthcare regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

Children's Institute
Mar 8th, 2024
Children's Institute Launches Early Literacy Resources

Recently, Children's Institute partnered with the Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest (REL NW) to collect existing, readily accessible resources on evidence-based literacy practices for children ages birth through grade 3.

PR Newswire
Aug 10th, 2023
Vermont Slauson Edc Launches The Watts Businesssource Center

Join us for open house festivitiesAugust 10 from 10:00am- 12:30pm at 10200 Success Avenue, Los Angeles CALOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This August marks the launch of the Watts BusinessSource Center (Watts BSC), a promising addition in Watts to bolster local economic growth. The Watts BSC is nestled within the Children's Institute at 10200 Success Avenue and supports entrepreneurial empowerment and business acumen of underserved business owners. A collaborative initiative by the Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) and the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), the Watts BSC will provide comprehensive business consulting services including permit support, financial planning, access to funding, and networking opportunities for local entrepreneurs and businesses.VSEDC President & CEO Quentin Strode says, "The Watts BSC allows local entrepreneurs and small business owners to nurture their potential. Its offerings drive the mission to cultivate a self-sustaining ecosystem that provides a foundation for business growth and job creation, uplifting Watts and the surrounding neighborhoods. This new business hub provides the necessary tools, insights, and network to realize it."City of Los Angeles Mayor Bass adds, "Small businesses and entrepreneurs should be able to thrive in all neighborhoods of Los Angeles

San Francisco Chronicle
Apr 25th, 2022
Hearst Foundations announce quarterly awards totaling more than $2 million

Hearst Foundations is awarding more than $2 million in grants to 16 California nonprofit...